THE HALPAIN LAB
   
Hippocampal neuron cultured for 3 weeks and stained for DNA in the nucleus (blue), the microtubule- associated protein MAP2 (green), and actin filaments (red). In mature neurons, MAP2 is present only in cell  bodies and dendrites and absent from axons. Actin filaments are present thoughout the neuron, including axons, but are especially enriched in dendritc spines, which appear as bright red dots along the dendrites.     Hippocampal neuron cultured for 24 hours and stained for DNA in the nucleus (blue), microtubules (green), and actin filaments (red). Note the high concentration of actin in the growth cones at the tips of emerging neurites in this immature neuron.

   

Hippocampal neuron expressing GFP-Actin.       Neuro2a neuroblastoma cells transfected with CFP-Actin (red) and YFP-MAP2c (green) were imaged during the formation of a process. Note the gradual alignment of MAP2c-decorated microtubules and the protrusion of the actin-rich growth cone. Actin in the growth cone is highly dynamic undergoing rapid retrograde flow.
   
Spherical aggregate of differentiating P19 cells, stained for MAP2 (red), F-actin (green) and nuclei (blue).    

 

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Shelley Halpain, Ph.D.
Professor, Division of Biological Sciences
University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive #0368
La Jolla, CA 92037-0368
Fax: (858) 822-7792
e-mail: shalpain@ucsd.edu